Bernie cuddles a puppy, Warren talks video games, and Buttigieg babysits for Colbert's Late Show


At their debate next week, the 2020 Democratic presidential candidates "are likely to face some tough questions from the moderators," Stephen Colbert said on Wednesday's Late Show. But Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg were game to answer maybe-less-tough questions from Colbert's staff. Impressively, only about 45 percent of them were softballs.
"There are 19 Democrats campaigning to be the one to face Trump in the general election," Colbert reminded viewers, and he ribbed a few of them. Frontrunner Joe Biden, for example, tweeted his best wishes to a basketball player who was back in the game already. Sen. Cory Booker's (D-N.J.) campaign staff is reportedly "Zen about the future of the race," despite his polling at 2 percent, he said. "It makes sense that they're Zen — when you're polling that low, you know the sound of one hand clapping." And Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) had a call-and-response fail in Nevada. Watch below. Peter Weber
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Will Ukraine trade territory for peace?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION Kyiv’s defences are wearing thin but a land swap is constitutionally impossible and crosses Zelenskyy's red lines
-
Quiz of The Week: 9 – 15 August
Quiz Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
-
Britain's giant rat problem
Rising infestation reports and increased sightings of oversized rats have caused concerns about waste management in some areas
-
Trump to host Kennedy Honors for Kiss, Stallone
Speed Read Actor Sylvester Stallone and the glam-rock band Kiss were among those named as this year's inductees
-
White House seeks to bend Smithsonian to Trump's view
Speed Read The Smithsonian Institution's 21 museums are under review to ensure their content aligns with the president's interpretation of American history
-
Charlamagne Tha God irks Trump with Epstein talk
Speed Read The radio host said the Jeffrey Epstein scandal could help 'traditional conservatives' take back the Republican Party
-
CBS cancels Colbert's 'Late Show'
Speed Read 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' is ending next year
-
Shakespeare not an absent spouse, study proposes
speed read A letter fragment suggests that the Shakespeares lived together all along, says scholar Matthew Steggle
-
New Mexico to investigate death of Gene Hackman, wife
speed read The Oscar-winning actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home with no signs of foul play
-
Giant schnauzer wins top prize at Westminster show
Speed Read Monty won best in show at the 149th Westminster Kennel Club dog show
-
Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar take top Grammys
Speed Read Beyoncé took home album of the year for 'Cowboy Carter' and Kendrick Lamar's diss track 'Not Like Us' won five awards